Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Dreadnaught, The American Standard

Cutting-edge rock today flourishes where the popular top-40 version struggles, in terms of its presence on the pop charts compared to decades ago. It no longer dominates the lowest-common-denominator realms. But in a way following in the footsteps of the evolution of jazz, the art form of rock is alive and growing, as I've tried to show on these pages when something comes along that warrants mentioning.

Another such something is up today. For your consideration (as Rod Serling used to say), the power trio Dreadnaught. Their album The American Standard (Red Fez Records). I believe this one goes back to 2001 but it in no way sounds dated.

The line-up is Richard Habib on drums, Robert Lord on electric bass and Justin Walton on electric guitar.

What struck me as I listened was the pleasingly elaborate interplay in the arrangements for all three players. They lock together with multi-sectioned notefulness that does not have a machine-gun fusion feel so much as a through-composed brilliance that still has the hard edge of rock. In that they are not at all the expected. They are a pretty rare thing--pristinely original prog-metal artists-composers.

They bring in various guests to extend the sound but the trio is continually in the foreground. They have an effective and interesting solo presence in guitarist Justin. He is no slouch and when he solos it is of a piece with the ensemble sections--bright and unexpected.

There are vocals and they do the job well enough without being spectacular, standing-ovation flag wavers. But the band does tend to fall into a kind of post-prog feel with the extended song forms they unwind at those points in the program.

A good sign with this band is that I am hard-pressed to come up with a name or two of bands they sound like. Because they sound like themselves.

The music intrigues. It is in its own way outstanding--and the post-prog crowd who favors excellent power trio arrangements should gravitate towards this one. In its own way something to hear, most definitely!

Grego's First Blog: 1,001 Knights, Reviews of Music CDs for Guitar, Bass and Otherwise

About This Blog

Grego Applegate Edwards writes this column.

The Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog has grown over several years to contain more than 1,000 reviews of CDs by guitarists, bassists, vocalists and otherwise. Each musician is a hero in my mind, a Knight in Shining Armor, devoting a lifetime to music that you can enjoy and treasure. Here are my 1,000 knights, and my many 1,000 nights spent listening so I could review this music for you. If you care about what you hear and want to know more about what is out there, you are the person I have in mind as I write these postings. If music isn't an important part of your life this blog is probably not for you.

Various musical genres get attention on these pages: jazz and rock with guitarists and/or bassists playing a prominent role, classical music for the guitar, world music, blues, roots, electric music, vocalists.

I cover other jazz and improvisation on the Gapplegate Music Review blog (see link on this page) and modern classical and avant garde concert music on the new blogsite Classical-Modern Music Review (see link).

About Me

I am a life-long writer, musician, composer and editor. I wrote for Cadence for many years, a periodical covering jazz and improv music. My combined Blogspot blogs (as listed in the links) now cover well over 3,000 recordings in review. It's been a labor of love. The music is chosen because I like it, for the most part, so you won't find a great deal of nastiness here. I have no affiliations and gain nothing from liking what I do, so that makes me somewhat impartial. I do happen to like a set of certain musics done well, so it's not everything released that gets coverage on these blogs. I have thirteen volumes of compositions available on amazon.com. Just type in "Grego Applegate Edwards" to find them. (But one is under "Gregory Applegate Edwards.") I went to music and higher education schools and got degrees. It changed my life and gave me the ability to think and write better. I've studied with master musicians, too. The benefits I gained from them are invaluable. I appreciate my readers. You are why I write these reviews. I hope the joy of music enriches your life like it does mine. Thank you. And thank you to all the artists that make it possible.